Power transmission chain and power transmission having the same

Abstract

A chain includes a plurality of links arranged in the chain-running direction and a plurality of connecting members connecting the links. A substantial plane strain state is applied to the stress field in the links created when the chain looped around pulleys is driven.

1 . A power transmission chain comprising: 
 a plurality of links arranged in a chain-running direction; and    a plurality of connecting members extending in the chain width direction and connecting the links,    wherein a substantial plane strain state is applied to stress field in the links that is created when the chain looped around pulleys is driven.    
   
   
       2 . The power transmission chain according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the link has through holes to insert the connecting members, and    a ratio of thickness of the link in a chain width direction to a length of the through hole in a direction perpendicular to the chain-running direction and the chain width direction is set in a range of 2/15 to 5/15.    
   
   
       3 . The power transmission chain according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the connecting member includes a power transmission member having a pair of engaging regions that engages with the pulleys to transmit power at opposite ends of the connecting member in the chain width direction, and    a ratio of thickness of the link to a distance between center points of the pair of engaging regions is set in the range of 1/30 to 3/30.    
   
   
       4 . The power transmission chain according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the link includes a first through hole and a second through hole which are disposed in a line in the chain-running direction and through the connecting members are respectively inserted,    the connecting member includes a first power transmission member that is engaged with the pulleys to transmit power and a second power transmission member that rolls to come in sliding contact with the first power transmission member,    the first power transmission member is inserted in the first through hole such that the first power transmission member can move relatively to the through hole and the second power transmission member is inserted in the first through hole such that the second power transmission member can not move relative to the through hole, and    the first power transmission member is inserted in the second through hole such that the first power transmission member cannot move relatively to the through hole and the second power transmission member is inserted in the second through hole such that the second power transmission member can move relative to the through hole.    
   
   
       5 . A power transmission comprising: 
 first and second pulleys respectively having a pair of conical sheave surfaces facing each other, and    the power transmission chain according to  claim 1  that is looped around the pulleys and engaged with the sheave surfaces to transmit power.    
   
   
       6 . A power transmission comprising: 
 first and second pulleys respectively having a pair of conical sheave surfaces facing each other, and    the power transmission chain according to  claim 2  that is looped around the pulleys and engaged with the sheave surfaces to transmit power.    
   
   
       7 . A power transmission comprising: 
 first and second pulleys respectively having a pair of conical sheave surfaces facing each other, and    the power transmission chain according to  claim 3  that is looped around the pulleys and engaged with the sheave surfaces to transmit power.    
   
   
       8 . A power transmission comprising: 
 first and second pulleys respectively having a pair of conical sheave surfaces facing each other, and    the power transmission chain according to  claim 4  that is looped around the pulleys and engaged with the sheave surfaces to transmit power.